Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Charges against Anthony Bynum, 29; Price Montgomery, 38; Shawn Williams, 33, and Craig Clayton, 55, were announced this morning in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit. Williams is from Detroit; the others are from Highland Park, according to officials.

Byrum's mother asked for prayers for her son following his initial appearance in federal court in Detroit today.

“My son is a good boy. He is a good officer,” said Annie Bynum, 65, of Detroit. “I can’t even believe this is happening.”

Anthony Bynum is accused, among other allegations, of agreeing in principal to kill someone for $20,000.

Bynum’s mother said her son has two sons of his own, a 10-year-old and 7-month-old. Bynum is also an officer for Detroit Public Schools, and his mother said he has been a pastor at two different churches in Detroit and Highland Park.

Williams and Clayton are reserve officers in Highland Park.

During the hearing, Magistrate Judge Laurie J. Michelson set bail for all four at a $10,000 unsecured bond. Michelson also ordered Bynum to wear a tether and be subject to a curfew because federal authorities said Bynum is a flight risk and noted that he’s accused of various violent incidents.

All four were also ordered not to have contact with each other unless their attorneys are present or with any witnesses, victims or members of Highland Park police, except to retrieve property.

Their travel is also restricted to eastern Michigan.

Preliminary examinations for all four were set for Feb. 15.

The men sat side by side with their legs shackled as they waited to be called before Michelson, who appointed federal defense attorneys to represent them. Bynum wiped his eyes several times as he waited his turn. All four spoke in short, one or two-word answers as Michelson addressed them.

One of the other defendants, Williams, who served as a police officer in Detroit from 2002-07, wore a blue shirt with white lettering on the back reading, “Sharing the Dream.”

The charges include conspiring to distribute 6 kilograms of cocaine and carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said that Highland Park Police Chief Kevin Coney initiated the federal investigation that started after Bynum and Montgomery arrested a man in August.

The complaint claims the officers beat the man. He then offered to pay them money.

The complaint said the officers accepted $10,000 in cash in exchange for failing to appear for trial. The man's case was dismissed.

The man, whom officials did not name, later worked with federal officials as an informant.

The officers also delivered "sham cocaine" from someone at Oakland Mall in Troy to a location in Taylor on the man's behalf, the complaint said.

The complaint details shipments on Jan. 23 and in November. Officials said Williams and Clayton were recruited to help with the second, larger shipment.

Each officer was paid either $1,000 or $1,500 by the confidential source, according to federal authorities.

McQuade sought to assure the public that those involved in the scheme have all been caught.

“This misconduct in this case is limited to the four officers charged,” she said.